DPWH to install security cameras

MANILA, Philippines – Following a burglary and a slay try on one of its undersecretaries, the Department of Public Works and Highways is considering installing close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the agency’s offices and other parts of the DPWH compound.

Manila Police District (MPD) director and Task Force Aquino commander Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales told The STAR yesterday that a DPWH security official recently conferred with him to discuss the installation of the CCTV cameras. The MPD has 60 CCTV cameras installed at various intersections and crime-prone areas in Manila.

On March 2, the offices of Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and Undersecretary Bashir Rasuman were burglarized. On March 11, Undersecretary Ramon Aquino was ambushed by two armed men as his car was leaving the DPWH compound in Port Area, Manila in broad daylight. Both incidents remain unsolved.

Task Force Aquino released yesterday a sketch of a woman who reportedly led Aquino’s attackers.

“The woman orchestrated the ambush. Our witnesses have observed a woman talking to the gunmen and the drivers of get-away motorcycles as early as 11 a.m. on the day of the ambush,” Rosales said.

So far, the task force had already released four sketches, including those of the two gunmen and one of the drivers of the getaway motorcycles.  

Rosales said witnesses have identified the suspects in a police photo gallery, “but these have still to be validated.”

The three shells and a slug from a .45 caliber pistol from the DPWH ambush will be cross-matched with those recovered at the attack of Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region assistant director Camilo Guarin. “We are determining whether the two attacks were perpetrated by only one group,” Rosales said.